The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 518

gently. A breath may put it out. But oh I how uIJ.leniably gentle has the touoh of Jesus been I and how soft have his breathings been I Breathings of hope, breathings of forgiveness, breathings of peace, breathings of holiness, breathings of heaven itself-till what was going out revives, what was waning waxes, what was so fitful burns steady and serener far than vestal fire, and the earthly light has brightened into the heavenly I III. AN UNKNOWN FORBEARANCE OF PATIENoE. For the unknown tenderness of heart and the unknown gentleness of touch which belong to Christ to gain their object and win their souls, what forbearance in the forbearingness of his patience has been needed, and times innumerable has been shown by him I Among men this is one of the very rarest of virtues and graces. What is owed to Christ, that he has shown it, and ever is showing it to such perfection. And how we all need to remember that if tried too long, it brings us to the verge of that "judgment," of which our following verse speaks, "Until he shall bring forth judgment in his victory." Judgment begun must be the offer of mercy foreclosed for those who still so long refused it. And for these the far different words of Isaiah's prophecy also must become true, " Then shall the strong man be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them."-B. Vers. 22-37 (see also Mark iii. 22-30; Luke xi.14----:-23).-The bathos of detracting blasphemy. In introduction, note the unity of this passage of sixteen verses. While the linking of one portion of the accounts contained in the Gospels. to another is very often exceedingly evident, and that, link by link, a oneness of a different and complete kind marks this marvellous episode. Observe also upon the fact that the criticism of all the ages from the earliest Christian writings of the centuries bas fastened upon these verses with no mistaken instinct. And grant that the crucial question, which they undoubtedly own to, considering the words and the tone of the Lord Jesus, may be approached, ought to be approached, investigated, and pondered with prayer, but will not allow itself to be dogmatized upon. The certain meaning eludes this treatment at any rate; and demands most reverential handling quite as really as it commands the awed meditating of the trne student of the words of Christ. Treating the passage in the simplest manner, the likelier to lead to a better appreciation of the central difficulty, notice- L THE SIGNIFICANT BISE OP THE OOOABION, WHICH TOOK 80 WIDE A BANGE A.FTEB• WARDS. 1. The prompt, manifest, and undisputed healing of a man who suffered from the deprivation (presumably) of three out of the five senses which belonged to his nature. 2. The 'TTWdus of this healing, to wit, the relieving the man of the tyrannous incubus of an evil spirit. This dispossessed, the man's dispossession vanished; the devil's possession challenged, disturbed, dislodged, and evicted, the man's rightful possession acd possessions came to him, like some dawn of day. 3. Inspiration's presentation of this event and transaction to the uncounted millions of its readers. That is, not ic its persor.al aspects, without one word of reheanal of the circumstances of the faith and inner desire and subsequent conduct of the man healed. He is here; he is healed- possibly he joins the amazed multitude, possibly he goes his way, and gratefully so; but the mighty work of Christ is left, a.ad thia becomes the sole absorbing subject. 4. The world of observers wended different ways-the way of the "people," and the way of the " Pharisees." lL THE DARING ll'llPU'l'A.TIOlf, BUI0IDAL BLANDER, AND PB0NOUN0ED BLASPHEMY THEREUPON, OF THE PHABIBEEB. A type to infernal perfection of that vice that has discredited so often in less degree fallen human nature, the detracting from the goodness of the good and their good deeds, and from the greatness of the great and their great deeds, is before us here. What are the facts , They a.re: 1. A great work done, a good work done, an absolutely merciful work done, the same being done not "on the sabbath day," and the same, all in one, done manifestly and to absolute undenied certainty; done, not merely alleged, not even offered the charge of simulation. 2. An evil work undone, a devil's work undone, with the devil who had done that work turned out ; and an exceeding bitter calamity and deprivation to an integreJ, individual part of God's creation graciously undone. 8. The Doer of the work answering to the above description-he is present, and his prerequisites for such work are, and (by the confession and in the words of one of that very body from whom the blasphemy proceeds) are known to be," that he be come from God," and that "God b4il  ou. xrr. 1-50.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 515